Governor Abbott extends social distancing mandates; Texas schools closed until May

Gov. Greg Abbott issued new statewide restrictions Tuesday, requiring Texans to abide by social distancing measures, deeming certain businesses essential and extending Texas school closures through April in an effort to limit the novel coronavirus’ spread in Texas.

Abbott’s new executive order follows mounting pressure from local officials, hospital systems and lawmakers to issue uniform policies throughout the state.

However, Abbott rejected the language of a “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-home” order Tuesday, stressing that Texans may still leave their homes for essential services and that domestic travel will not be restricted.

According to the order, essential services will consist of everything listed in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s guidance on essential critical infrastructure workforce, and include sectors such as public health, transportation, food and agriculture and more.

Religious services are also deemed an essential service and must either be conducted virtually, or abide by appropriate social distancing measures if in-person, Abbott said.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management may also approve and add additional essential services, and will maintain a list at: tdem.texas.gov/essentialservices. The order will go into effect statewide at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, April 2 and last through April 30.

“The only thing that is allowed are essential services and personal activities that correspond with those services,” John Wittman, a spokesman for Gov. Abbott said after Tuesday’s press conference. “That is in addition to the personal and religious activities that the executive order explicitly allows.”

According to the executive order, businesses people should avoid visiting in-person include gyms, massage parlors, tattoo and piercing studios, cosmetology salons, and dining-in at restaurants and bars. Drive-through or take-out orders are still allowed and encouraged, Abbott said.

“In particular, all services should be provided through remote telework from home unless they are essential services that cannot be provided through remote telework,” according to the order.

Abbott also extended his earlier executive order that closed Texas schools, and said that schools will remain closed until Monday, May 4.

Bus driver who worked three Fort Worth routes tests positive for coronavirus

A Trinity Metro bus driver tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The driver operated buses on routes 20 Handley, 21 Boca Raton and 25 Crosstown, the Fort Worth transit authority said in a statement. The person, who was not identified, was last at work on March 21, driving in the afternoon and night.

The driver has been self-quarantined since March 22 with mild symptoms.

According to Trinity Metro, the driver operated a Route 20 bus on March 13 and 20, a Route 21 bus March 9-11 and then again March 16-18, and a Route 25 bus on March 7, 14 and 21.

Any passengers who rode routes driven by the operator between March 7 and 21 should monitor themselves for symptoms, contact their healthcare provider and self-quarantine to avoid possibly exposing others, Trinity Metro said.

Judge rules McKinney shelter-in-place order can continue

A judge determined McKinney’s shelter-in-place order can remain in place after a resident sued the mayor over the city’s order, saying it conflicted with the county’s.

McKinney Mayor George Fuller issued a stricter stay-at-home order than Collin County’s county-wide rule, which deemed all businesses essential. While Fuller said he respected the county’s actions, he wanted McKinney’s order to go further to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

McKinney’s order closed many businesses that were deemed non-essential, which Fuller said would protect residents.

“As the safety, health and well-being of this community is our highest priority, I appreciate this critical ruling,” Fuller said about Tuesday’s ruling on Facebook.

Resident Derek Baker, a local real estate agent, filed for a temporary restraining order against Fuller’s order on Friday. He said the county’s more lenient order superseded Fuller’s, and McKinney’s shelter-in-place cost thousands of jobs.

While District Judge Jill Willis denied the TRO, Baker’s lawsuit against Fuller still stands unless Baker withdraws the suit.

Fuller said he called Baker on Tuesday and offered to talk about the shelter-in-place order.

“He has the option of moving forward with the suit,” Fuller said. “I suggested we get together and we get to a place of understanding with the concerns he has.”

On Monday, Baker said he filed the suit to defend those who lost their jobs due to Fuller’s order. Baker did not immediately return calls for comment Tuesday.

“I am literally fighting for thousands of people that the mayor fired,” Baker said Monday. “I know he did not do it maliciously, but he chose winner or loser by saying who’s essential.”

Fuller said he thinks he and Baker can come to an understanding, and he is striving for as much unity as possible in the city.

El Paseo restaurants temporarily closed after employee tests positive for coronavirus

A worker at El Paseo Mexican Restaurant in Fort Worth has tested positive for coronavirus, forcing officials to close all their locations.

The announcement was made Monday on the restaurant’s Facebook page just hours after the worker was told his test was positive.

“We are taking precautionary steps to make sure everyone is safe from the virus by temporarily closing all of our locations until April 7th,” according the restaurant’s post. “That would make it a full two weeks of no one showing symptoms at the CDC’s recommendations.”

The restaurant has locations in Fort Worth, Azle and Mineral Wells.

Fort Worth-area hospitals prepared for coronavirus ‘worst-case scenario,’ leader says

The leader of the Tarrant County Medical Society said he believes county health care professionals are prepared for a possible surge of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, he’s been struck by the amount of specialty and retired physicians who have told him they want to help people who become infected with the novel coronavirus.

The spike of patients could hit Texas around May 5, according to projections from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Brian Swift, the society’s chief executive officer, said on Tuesday that he participates in two phone calls a day with professionals from across the state about their response to COVID-19 and the issues facing doctors. Based on those calls, Swift said he thinks Tarrant County is prepared for the worst-case scenario.

“I feel very good just talking with some of the medical directors,” he said. “I do feel optimistic that we know what to do. It is just a matter of execution on a lot of these things.”

Despite coronavirus, quarterly property tax bills still due

Quarterly Tarrant County property tax bills must still be paid on time during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tax Assessor Collector Wendy Burgess said her office has received a number of requests for property tax relief as COVID-19, and stay at home orders to prevent its spread, has led to a number of businesses having to temporarily close their doors.

Burgess said the tax office can work with taxpayers on payment options such as partial payments and payment tax installment agreements.

“Unfortunately, the Tax Assessor-Collector has no authority in the law to waive amounts due or change due dates,” a statement by Burgess read. “Changes in the law can only be accomplished by the Texas Legislature or by Executive Order of the Governor.”

But she said she has reached out to local lawmakers, passing on “taxpayer requests for relief that we have received with an appeal that they be forwarded to the governor.”

More than half of Tarrant coronavirus cases locally transmitted; 20 new cases reported

Tarrant County confirmed 20 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, for a total of 175 cases.

Additionally, the county has 98 provisional cases, and eight patients have recovered.

More than 50% of the cases (91 patients) contracted the virus through community spread, including 76 patients from an unknown source, according to the Tarrant County Public Health Department.

The cases are spread across 26 cities, plus unincorporated Tarrant County, including a county-high 61 in Fort Worth, 58 cases of which are active. There are 33 additional provisional cases in Fort Worth under investigation. Arlington has 27 confirmed cases and 19 provisional cases.

Associations for Texas hospitals, nurses urge Abbott for statewide stay-at-home order

The associations representing thousands of Texas nurses and hospital workers sent a letter Tuesday urging Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a statewide stay-at-home order as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rise.

Signed by Ted Shaw, the president and CEO of the Texas Hospital Association, and Cindy Zolnierek, the CEO of the Texas Nurses Association, the letter says that time for such an order has come.

“With surging counts and projections — and news of community pockets that are not heeding the warning to distance — a statewide stay-at-home policy will send a clear message about the seriousness of the threat. Ultimately, it will save lives,” the letter reads.

As of Tuesday morning, there were at least 2,877 confirmed cases, 38 related deaths and roughly 35,880 Texans who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ count.

Abbott has deferred to local officials to determine whether stay-at-home orders are necessary for their communities, and during a press conference Sunday said that “about 75% of the state of Texas is under the umbrella of what would be categorized as a stay-at-home policy,” because of local orders.

Former FDA official questions Texas’ coronavirus response

As more than 2,500 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Texas, a former Food and Drug Administration official questions whether this state is doing enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Texas may have a very narrow window to take tougher action to avert a bad outcome with #COVID19,” Scott Gottlieb, a physician, wrote on Twitter Sunday night. “Building case counts in Dallas and other Texas cities, and a slow state response, are a dangerous harbinger that things could soon explode in that state.”

His tweet, which was shared more than 1,300 times and liked by more than 2,300 people, came as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued his latest round of restrictions Sunday.

Abbott’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The Texas governor has closed schools and ordered Texans not to gather in groups of more than 10 people. He shut down businesses such as gyms and massage parlors. He said Texans may not dine in at restaurants, but they may pick up food to go or have it delivered. And he stopped family visits to nursing and retirement homes, and long-term care facilities.

But Abbott hasn’t issued a statewide stay-at-home order, instead leaving that call to city and county officials.

U.S. Rep. Ron Wright ill but tests negative for coronavirus

U.S. Rep. Ron Wright woke up Saturday morning with a fever and flu-like symptoms.

The Arlington Republican had been in Washington, D.C., the day before, voting on the federal stimulus package known as the CARES Act. So he talked to his doctor and then headed to the Emergency Room.

He went through five hours of various tests, including one for coronavirus.

“On Sunday morning, I received the news that I thankfully tested negative for COVID-19 but do have a mild case of pneumonia,” Wright, 66, said in a prepared statement. “I never would have thought I’d be happy to hear a positive pneumonia diagnosis.”

Wright has been undergoing medical treatment since he learned he had stage 4 lung cancer in 2018 and has said his prognosis looks good.

Judge blocks Texas from closing abortion clinics over coronavirus

A federal judge on Monday stopped the state of Texas from closing abortion clinics.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said earlier this month that the clinics must shut their doors under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders that any surgeries not medically necessary must be postponed.

Abortion providers sued Abbott, Paxton and other state officials, trying to stop the state’s restriction.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel granted a temporary restraining order preventing the closure of clinics. It is in effect until April 13, when the judge plans to hold a telephone hearing to decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction.

“Regarding a woman’s right to a pre-fetal-viability abortion, the Supreme Court has spoken clearly,” states Yeakel’s order, in response to the lawsuit against Texas officials. “There can be no outright ban on such a procedure.”

’The million dollar question’: What makes a business essential in Tarrant County?

While restaurants and boutique shops sit dark, life goes in many of Fort Worth’s workplaces as companies and officials grapple with what being “essential” in the age of the novel coronavirus means.

Like most of America, Tarrant County and the city has closed non-essential businesses in attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Last week Fort Worth and Tarrant County ordered residents to stay home unless traveling for essential business.

Tarrant County confirmed 16 new coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the total number to 155. As many as 238 cases may exist in Tarrant County, which had the sixth-highest number of cases in the state.

What makes a business essential is “the million dollar question,” said Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. Dozens of people have inquired with the Star-Telegram through a Google Form about whether their company should remain open. Whitley said his staff is fielding questions about particular businesses daily. Through March 29, the city of Fort Worth’s special COVID-19 hotline, 817-392-8478, has received nearly 3,000 calls.

The city and county regulations are enforceable through a $1,000 fine and up to 180 days in jail, but Whitley has said law and code enforcement officers are focused on education, not ticketing.

“If this continues to escalate and people choose not to do what we’ve asked, then we’ll have no choice but to enforce,” he said . “That would go for inside our businesses too.”

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce has received several inquiries regarding essential business and services. Rather than attempt to interpret declarations, the chamber is directing members to the city and county declarations, said Rebecca Young, senior vice president of advocacy.

“We are stressing that members should absolutely practice social distancing if they remain open,” she said.

Tarrant County confirms 16 new coronavirus cases, reports 83 pending patients

Tarrant County confirmed 16 new coronavirus cases for a total of 155, plus 83 additional provisional cases.

Eight patients have recovered and one patient died two weeks ago in Arlington.

The confirmed cases are across 21 cities, including 55 (52 currently) in Fort Worth, 26 (24 currently) in Arlington, and 10 in Mansfield.

Nearly 50% of the patients contracted the coronavirus through community spread, including 41% (63 cases) from an unknown source. Travel was blamed for the contraction in 73 patients (47%). The transmission in seven cases is undetermined.

Dallas County confirms 11th death, 61 new coronavirus cases

Dallas County confirmed 61 new coronavirus cases, including its 11th death, Monday.

A Dallas man in his 40s was found dead in his home. He had other high-risk, chronic health conditions.

Dallas County had 549 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday morning.

The county reports hospitalization of coronavirus cases has increased, with about 65% of the patients “either over 60 years of age or having had at least one known high-risk chronic health condition.”

Of the total hospitalized patients, 36% have required intensive care, the county said.

Third Dallas police officer tests positive for coronavirus, department says

A third Dallas police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, police officials announced Monday.

Dallas police officials on Monday were notified that an officer who works at the academy had tested positive for the coronavirus.

The officer, who began feeling sick earlier this month, has been out of the office since March 18, Dallas police officials said. The officer is home and recuperating.

No one else at the academy had shown any signs or symptoms as of Monday.

A Dallas police medical team will determine if any other officers will need to be quarantine.

Denton County confirms third coronavirus death, 26 new cases

Denton County confirmed its third death and 26 new COVID-19 cases on Monday.

A woman in her 60s in unincorporated Denton County had been hospitalized and contracted the coronavirus through community spread.

“The news of a third individual’s death due to COVID-19 is tragic,” said Denton County Judge Andy Eads in a news release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time.”

Denton County now has 191 confirmed cases, including four more residents of the Denton State Supported Living Center and eight more employees of the center.

Collin County confirms 26 new coronavirus cases

Collin County confirmed 26 new coronavirus cases Monday, including nine in Plano, seven in McKinney and four in Frisco.

The county now has 160 cases with at least 47 patients fully recovered and one death in Plano, which leads the county with 53 confirmed cases.

Johnson County adds two more coronavirus cases

Johnson County confirmed two more coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the total to eight.

The two new cases are a 34-year-old male and a 33-year-old female in the western part of the county. Both are in home isolation.

Arlington closes playgrounds, park workout stations for coronavirus social distancing

The Arlington Park and Recreation Department closed playgrounds and park workout stations Monday to enforce social distancing due to coronavirus.

The city announced the closures Monday night.

Residents are still allowed to go to local parks and the hike and bike trail system as long as they stay 6 feet away from others. Only playgrounds and work stations are closed.

This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates March 31: Here’s what to know in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."